I have an obsession. . . Some might call it a problem, I’m completely content with it . . . This obsession of mine. . .Prepare yourself. . . is with popcorn. . . Whew, so glad to get that off my chest. Morning, noon, night, regardless of the time of day, I could pick up a handful of popcorn and go to town; sometimes I just rule out a well balanced dinner and have popcorn, sounds like a good time right? Truly it is. Recently I have just taken to popping large batches on the stovetop and putting it in bags in the pantry so I don’t have to pop some at all hours of the day, I mean who really wants to stand over a big pot waiting for those precious kernels to work their yummy magic when they get a case of the munchies?!

Let’s talk pairings, there is nothing like grinding your own sea salt and peppercorns with a mortar and pestle and sprinkling that freshness over the hot popcorn. It is classic, and true to the popcorn flavor. I prefer white kernels to yellow, I don’t know why, but they just always come out fluffier and lighter for me. Chocolate. . . YES. . . this is a must; tossed into the warm, salty goodness, this will make the best movie companion a girl could ask for (Or a guy for that matter, we don’t discriminate). There are so many things you can do with popcorn, its a wonderful blank slate for a caboodle (yes, I did just say caboodle) of flavor combinations.

My choice, salted caramel, well let’s just be honest, come fall time, everyone loves three flavors. . . pumpkin, salty caramel, and coffee. The ambient temperature starts to drop, we all grab our scarves, our pumpkin flavored latte, or tea, and we get amped about leaves changing colors and falling from trees and cool breezes and all that makes autumn so magical. So here is where my obsession meets the seasonal fall inspirations.

1. Pop the popcorn according to instructions on the kernel package. You will need 12 cups of popped popcorn

2. In a medium size saucepan, combine the butter, corn syrup, sugar, and salt and bring to a boil.

3. Once the mixture is boiling, allow to boil for approximately 2 minutes. While this is boiling add the ground coffee. (The finer you grind it the less grainy the coffee grounds will be and the more flavor you will get out of them)

4. Add the Vanilla, and then the Baking Soda. The soda will react with the heat and make the caramel mixture fluff up.

5. Pour the caramel mixture onto the popped popcorn and turn the popcorn over until it is coated with the mixture. Turn the coated popcorn out onto either a baking sheet or wax paper to cool.

6. You can add any other additional things like pretzels, M&M's, peanuts or pecans. And then you are all done!